Zeolite water softener



N'Jurn 17, 1930. c. F. HQDKlNsoN ZEOLITE WATER SOFTENER Filed April y6;1922 7i Z y 7 'i Y as 9 74' J0 "Tlf: 1 Q

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Patented June 17, i933 lUNITE *STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE F. HODKINSON.F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PERM'UTIT COMPANY. OF NEWYORK', N. Y., CORPORATCH OF DELAWARE ZEOLITE WATER i SOFTENERApplication led` April 6,

The purpose 'of my invention is to more thoroughly regenerate a .zeolitebed after it.

ing and for regeneration and cleansing,`

means being provided for intermittent transfer of a charge or body ofgranular zeolite back and forth .between the two compartn ments. A.charge of zeolite remains in the softening compartment until itsactivity is exhausted to the extent' desired. It is then transferred tothe other compartment where it is cleansed, regenerated and rinsed. Itthen goes back to the first compartment with its activity restored. .v

My invention relates to the processes 1nvolved and also to mechanism bywhichthey may be carried out.

I prefer to illustrate my invention by a few forms only among the manyby which it might be shown, selecting forms which are practical, highlyefficient and inexpensive,

and which at the same time well illustrate the principles of myinvention.

Figure l is a vertical section partly in side elevation of one form ofapparatus useful in the performance of my process and within the purviewof my invention.

Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 t-aken upon line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a perspective partly in section showing one of thestrainer-s of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of Figure 1 taken upon line lf-4:; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged broken section shown in part 4in Figure 1.

In the drawings similar numerals indicate like parts.

Zeolites have been used to a considerable extent in the softening ofWater and this use has constituted so large a part of their utility (hatthe liquid to be treated by the zeolite willV be referred to hereingenerically -as water. v

ln the use ol a zeolite filter the zeolite bed isplaeed within atank.\vhich is closed so as to permit the water to pass through the tankat the normal water pressure. During the 1922. serial no. 550,130.

stituting the calcium of the carbonate for the sodium of the zeolite andthe sodium of the zeolite for the calcium of the carbonate, so

- tially loosening up the bed of zeolites it does not thoroughly breakup material which is matted and this material, when it has settled back,resists water How through it and promotes ehannelling. Back Washingremoves loosely lodged foreign mattery but does not cleanse thevzeolitesuiiiciently preparatory to regeneration and much of the foreign matterv adheres to the zeolite, coating the grains in such a wayas to preventaccess of the regenerating chemical to the coated portions of the grainsretarding and preventing proper regeneration. The frequency ofchannelling andthe coating have contributed to the considerable loss inefliciency of a zeolite which has .been regenerated. i.

, I provide not only for a much more complete intermixing ofthe zeolitegrains pre; paratory to regeneration but' for scouring the grains andsecure much more thorough cleansing of the zeolite, with or without backwashing, by forcing the zeolite into a separate compartment by a flow ofwater, preferably into anopen compartment, where it falls into a body ofrinse water. The foreign mat-ter freed from the grains by the stirringup and scouring of the zeolite passes off with the overflow of thiswater. I also secure the considerable advantage of performing thisoperation aswell as regeneration in the tank open to inspection.

Iy find that the "hydraulic handling of a charge of zeolite and itstransfer to a separate regenerating tank are much more beneficial y theupper. The lower section is lcomposed of a base I6, cylindrical sidewall 17 attached thereto and a closed top 18, this forming the' septumbetween the two tanks referred to. These elements are rigidly united andare I' adapted to receive and treat water under pressure. Base 16 ischambered, the chamber 19 forming a 'manifold for inlet water yWheresoftening is to be done upward and 'for out-v let softenedwater withdownward softening. The manifold is connected with the interior of thesoftener through a large number of inletor outlet-strainers 20comprising each a threaded conical connecting member 21 inserted Withinholes in the bottom of the soft ener and communicating with thc softenerthrough narrow annular spaces 22 formed between one or morel annularmc'inbers 23 and between these annular members and the fiange 24 uponmember 21andthe top plate 25. The spacing of the parts is determined bywashers 26 locatedbetween them and held in place by bolts or rivets 27passing through the washers to hold the parts together.

Either pipe 28 "or pipe 29 may provide theA inlet water and the otherthe outlet, dependthelfunctions outlined by valves 30, 30', 31

inguyon the preferred direction for softening. he piping connections areiven added flexibility for control to accomp ish any of 32`and 33controlling connection With-pipes 34 and 35 and by-pass 36. The upperpipe 28 is preferably the influent and the lower, 29, .the emuent.

The waste waterconnection for the tank A15l is shown as comprising aipe37 connected to the waste pipe "38 throng a valve 39 and screenedfromy the tank as at 40 to prevent zeolite waste. The pipe 38 is shownas emptying into a sewer connection 41.

The ap aratus shown allows operation in many di erent ways. softeningcan be in either direction and many other permutations are possible.However, inall cases the use of'a charge in softening and itslcleansing' and regeneration are performed in se arate compartments. Itis necessary in ealing with water under pressure to have the lowercompartment shown closed; but there are advantages in -having theuppercompartment open at the top as this permits' inspection and access tothe charge. t The us/e of a separate compartment for regeneration-of thezeolite ensures a thorough scouring and cleansing of the zeoliteduringthe transfer of the zeolite from the softener to the regenerating tankand the more complete removal of the regenerating salt from the zeoliteduring the replacement ofthe zeolite within the soi'tener.

In the form'shown in thc Figures 1-5 the regenerating tank is closelycoupled with the softening tank by placing the former directly above thelatter so that the conical bottoni 42 of the regei'lerating tank 43forms a partition' wall between the two compartments, to guide theIcontents of the upper compartment toward the valve 44 at the center.Vhen this islit'ted and Water is admitted thc contents of theuppercompartment will be washed through valve opening 45l into the-lowercompartment.

The upper compartment is preferably open at the top at 46, has acylindrical side wall 47y and is-capped by a ring 48. The ring and baseare provided with ears 49 igor tie rods 50, offering oncof variousconvenient ways of holding the parts tightly together.

The pipes 28 and 29 are connected `to supply Water Ito the regeneratingcompartment by pi s 51 and 52 controlled by valve 53.

Il/)shan the valve 53 is closed the connection at 52 may be used forinsertion of a"1'ef' generating solution, preferably a solution of com--mon salt, from a tank 54, through pipe 55, controlled by valve 56. Thesalt solution may also be connected, 'as through pi es 57, 58 controlledby valve 59 with the ottoni of tank 43. Admission to the bottom of thetank is referably made through a distributor 60 aving screened`communication at 61 with the bottom of the tank 43.

Wash water outlet from the upper compartment may be had at the topthrough screen 62 and pipe 63 in communication with the waste pipe 38.Vhen it isdesired to wash downwardly the connection may be made from thelower part of compartment 43 to the waste pipe by the pipo 58 and a'pipe 64 controlled by valve 65. i

The contents of chamber 15 can be Washed downwardly also through themanifold 19 and alconnection 66 to waste pipe 38. The connection iscontrolled by a valve 67.

`Pipes 57, 58 and 64, already -seen to be in communication, areconnected also by a pipe 68 with the manifold 179. This connection iscontrolled by a valve 69'.

The entire zeolitic content of compartment or chamber 15 may be drivenhydraulically through a pipe 70 and nozzle 71 connecting `the lower partof the filter with the top of `the reg'neratingtank. The zeolite theredischarges into achamber filled with rinse water so that the lWat-er maythoroughly Wash the zeolite and any foreign matter in it is floated outalong with the overflow (pipe 63)l of water displaced by the zeolitc.The nozzle may be closed by a. valve 72 held in lplace by a screw clamp73.

Pipe 7 0 passes through the valve 44 and is surrounded by a` pipe 74which comprises the stem of the valve 44 and which can be lifted in anysuitable and well known manner by turning a wheel 75.' The wheel issupported in anysuil'ab'le manner so that its rotation results inthe'lifting of the pipe 74. This is normally accomplished by supportingthe pipe 7() 'separately and mounting upon `it collars 76 and 77 betweenwhich the wheel turns, preventing the longitudinal movement of the wheelwhile the threaded sleeve 78 connected with the wheel screws upon thestem 74 to lift or lower the valve. In operation the zeolite is placedwithin the softener tank 14, valve 32 is closed and the raw water is runthrough the zeolitic bed either upwardly or' downwardly until thez'eolite has exchanged its base for that of the hardening constituent ofthe water to such an extent as to need regeneration. To wash withrawwater the valves 30', 33 and 53 must be closed. Water is injectedinto the softener at the bottom through valves 30, 31 and 33 to ,forcethe content of zeolite upwardly through the pipe into the regeneratingtank, during which movement the grains are thoroughly separated andscoured. Soft water can be used. taken fromy pipe 29, through valves 30and 31 and valves 32 and 33 would be closed.n It' the lower connectionbe the inlet, the connections will be the reverse of those given above.The loosening of the foreign matter from the zeolite, accomplished bythe thorough scouring during its passage from the so tener to theregenerating tank, discharges the zeolite into a body ofl'water in themost favorable condition vfor complete cleansing, with the foreignmatter loose and the surfaces of the zeolite thoroughly cleansed and eX-posed for more effective regeneration. The zeolite settles quicklythrough the water to the bottom and the impurities pass out with theoverflow of displaced rinse water.

Regeneration can take place in either direction, by salt water from thetank 54 passlng in at the top or bottom as preferred. If at the top itpasses in through pipe 55, valve 56 and pipe 52 and wash outlet at thebottom takes place through pipes 58 and 64 and valve 65, the valves 53,59 and 69 being closed. If regeneration is to take place from thebottom, the salt solution will pass in through pipe 57, valve 59 andpipe 58, valves 65 and 69 being closed; and wash outletwill take plat/:eat the top through'screen 62 and pipes 63 and a8.

The salt water is then washed out by passing water through the bed as itlies, inlet taking .place through pipes 51 and 52 if it is to be washeddownwardly and through man ifold-19 and pipes'68 and 58 if the washingtake place upwardly.

Before replacement of the zeolite, the zeolite tank-47 is filled withwater, the valve 44 s raised and the zeolite falls intothe rinse Iwaterof the softener tank, again rinsing the regenerated zeolite andvdisplacing the rinse water, which passes out through the waste pipe 37.

Obviously when the zeolite is discharged from the softener tank itVmaybe discharged into a somewhat more dense salt solution forregeneration instead of into clear water, if the regenerating tank 47 bel'illed from the salt supply instead of from the fresh water flushes outliberated ,foreign matter which has been disengaged from the zeolitegrains, after which the wash water is admitted to remove the surplussalt remaining from the salt solution.

As soon as the zeolite has been regenerated it may, if desired,` bedropped into the compartment 15 since it there falls into and settlesthrough rinse water which would have the eilect of cleansing theregenerated zeolite of surplus salt solution, ,washing the salt solutionout through the pipe' 37 along with the water displaced by the zeolite.However, as indicated, I prefer to wash the regenerated zeolite in theregenerating tank.

v When the valve 44 is lifted and the regenerated zeolite passes downinto the softener drum the zeolite redistributes as a bed ready foranother run and the operation described may be repeated.

The disturbance resulting from the dis-l charge of the zeolite into thewater prevents rapid settling ofthe zeolite and results in nearly evendistribution. Any tendency to pyramid inthis or in my other forms can betaken care. of readily by momentary back washing. i

.Having thus described my invention., what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In processes of softening water by apervious body of zeolites, said body being successively used insoftening, cleansed, regenerated and rinsed, the process which comprisesexposing a per'vious body of zeolite to a flow of hard water 1n onecompartment until its activity lessens substantially, then transferringit to another water-filled com-y partment by a flow of water, thetransferred zeolite being allowed to fall through said water, therebycleansing said zeolite, vremoving the water, regenerating with a flow ofsalt, solution, rinsing and returning. the charge of zeolite to thefirst compartment for renewed use.

2. In water softening apparatus,a tanklike container divided into anupper and a lower compartment by a transverse septum having a closableapertures pipe means ex-` tending from a low point' of the lowercompartment to a high point of the upper com 4 `incarnata partment andadapted for hydraulic transer of zeolites from the lower compartment tothe upper compartment, a hard Water inlet and a soft water outlet forthe lower comb partment, a brine inlet and outlet for the uppercompartment, and means for opening the closure in the septum to permitreturn of zeolites from the upper to the lower compartment. 3. In theapparatus of claim 2, an upper compartment having an open top. 4. Inapparatus for softening water, a tank divided into upper and lowercompartments by a transverse funnel-shaped partition hav- `ng an openingat its approximate center,

an adjustable closure for said opening, a hydraulic conveyorcommunicating with the bottom of the lower compartment and the top ofthe .upper compartment, means for 2,0 passing hard water into and softwater out of the lower compartment, means for sup-V l plying andremoving brine and wash water to the uplper compartment and means at thetop of t e upper compartment for opening said closure.

` GEORGE F. HODKINSON.

